Mantel.



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2 Sheets-Sheet VIVEN gli E55E:S W @W y @Lm/@Lk Patented Apr. 2, |90l.

M A N T E L (Application filed Sept. 26, 1900.)

(No Modl.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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PATENT MANTEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,145, dated April 2, 1901.

Application led September 26, 1900. Serial No 31,195. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS Rens PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mantels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My improvement relates to wooden mantels for fireplaces, and has reference more particularly to the production of a mantel the parts of which are separable, to the end that the mantel may be handled, shipped, and stored in knockdown form. When so separated, the parts of this mantel may be put into compact and secure form. In such form there is less liability of breakage than when all the parts are united and constitute a complete mantel. In the factory previous to shipment less room is required for the knockdown form, and when the mantels are crated for shipment the crating of the separated parts can be more readily and more economically done, and the same applies to the haulingin wagons, shipment in cars and on vessels, and subsequent storage and handling until the mantels are finally brought to the building where they are to be permanently placed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of a mantel embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said mantel. Fig. 3 isa plan of said mantel, a portion of the cornice being broken away at the left. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section below the top at the left-hand end of the mantel. Fig. 51s an end elevation of the same mantel with a profile inserted for expanding the mantel from front to rear. Fig. f5 is a horizontal section of the right-hand end of a mantel having such profile added, the section being taken immediately below the top, as is the case with Fig. 4. Fig. 7 illustrates in a group the pieces comprising the mantel shown by Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating a modification for the attachment of the breast tothe jambs. Figs. 9,10, and 11 illustrate alternate forms of means for locking the front of the top of the mantel to the base. Figs. l2 and 13 are details showing methods for securing the rear portion of the top.

Referring to said drawings, A A are the jambs, and B is the breast. These three parts together constitute the base of the mantel. They are shown separated in Fig. 7 and united in Figs. 1,4, 6,and 8. As these parts are relatively short and fiat and thin and in the same plane when united, they do not occupy much space and are not difficult to pack even when permanently united. Hence uniting these parts permanently or separably is not a matter of great dierence; yet in most cases it will probably be found preferable to make them separable. In the form illustrated by Figs. 4, 6, and 7 the ends of the breast B overlap the jambs Aby extending behind said jambs and are -secu red by screws passing through holes b in the breast into the adjacent portion of the jamb. The drawings show the breast recessed at B/ at the front of the ends, so that a portion of the body of the breast will extend forward between thejambs and a portion will extend back of the jambs. The space inclosed by the jambs A A and the breast B, as appears in Fig. l, is termed the tile-opening. It isirnportant that the rear faces of said jambs and breast be in the same plane around said tile-opening. Hence if the breast B extends rearward of the jambs A A, as already described, I extend the inner edges of the jambs A A below the breast rearward into the plane of the rear face of the breast. This may be accomplished by adding beading A to the rear of said edge of each jamb from the lower edge of the breast B downward. Such beading is illustrated in the sectional view thrown off from the jamb Aat the left-hand portion of Fig. 7. In Fig. 8, which illustrates a modification, B2 is one end of the breast and A one of the jambs. A vertical dovetail B3 is formed along the end of the breast7 with its oblique face directed rearward, and a strip B4, having an opposite dovetail B5, is secured by screws b4 to the jamb A2, with its dovetail locking into the dovetail of the breast B2. These parts IOO are to be of such proportionate dimensions as that the tightening of the screws b4 will clamp the breast B2 firmly to the jamb A2, while the loosening of the screws will release said breast and permit its removal by lifting it.

C, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 7, is the top or main shelf of the mantel, it appearing in front elevation in Fig. l, in end elevation in Fig. 2, in plan in Fig. 3, and in reverse plan in Fig. 7. Said top rests upon the upper face of the base-in other words, upon the upper edges of the jambs and the breast-and upon the brackets D, the rear edge of said top being even with the rear face of the breast B.

The brackets D are preferably removably applied to the upper front faces of the jambs A A by means of screws passing from the rear through holes u in said jambs, the upper ends of said brackets being level with the upper edges of said jambs and breast. A tongue d extends forward at the front upper portion of each of said brackets. The top C extends forward farther than said tongue d, and a strip c -is secured to or formed upon the bottom of said top in front of said tongue, and lthe lower portion of said strip extends rearward beneath and into contact with said tongue. Thussaid stripcconstitutes a hook engaging the tongue cl and prevents the front edge of said top O from rising; yet said top may be moved forward and then lifted from said base. 'lhe rear edge of said top may be secured by means of screws a', extending obliquely upward through the rear face of said breast or jambs into said top, as shown in Fig. 12.

E is'the cabinet or head of the mantel. As illustrated in the drawings, this is as long as the entire width of the base, and it rests upon the rear of the top C, with its rear face even with the rear edge of said top. A strip E2 extends over 'the lower portion of the rear face of the head E and the rear edge 0f the top C and is secured by screws e, extending through said strip into said head and top. (See Fig. l2.) This strip may, however, be omitted and said head otherwise secured. For example, the rear edge of the top may be recessed sufliciently, as at O', Fig. 13, to receive the lower edge of the head and allow screws to pass from the rear th rough said head into said top, C being the top and E the head. As another means for securing said head the wall-plates F may be used to secure said head. Said plates extend vertically behind the jambe A, the top C, and said head E at -each side of the mantel and are secured to said parts by means of screws extending from the rear through said plates into said other parts. When the ends of said head E are thus secured to said wall-plates, the only object to be attained by securing the lower edge of said head is to prevent warping along such edge. E is a cornice applied upon the upper edge of said head E. Along the rear portion of its lower face a bead e extends downward behind said head, and screws passing from the rear through said bead into said head secure said cornice, Figs. l, 2, and 7.

i Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, A is one of the jambs. D is a bracket applied, as already des scribed. G/ is the top, and c is the stiip forming the hook. F is a wall-plate. I is a plate termed the profile, inserted between the wall-plate and said jamb. B is a breast corresponding to the breast of Fig. l.

The mantel illustrated by Figs. l and 2 is .termed a flat mantel, because its depth from front to rear is reduced to a minimum. The mantel illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 is termed a profile mantel, because its depth from front to rear or as viewed in profile is increased to the extent of the width of the profile I. In the form illustrated by said Figs. 5 and 6 the top C is 'widened to co1npensate for the width of the profile I. It will be observed that in the latter construction the breast is attached to the jambs, as in the form illustrated by Figs. l` and 2, while the top reaches over the jambs and breast into line with the front faces of the wall-plates.

The tongue d and the hook o, whereby the interlocking engagement is made at the front of the top O, may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Fig. 9 a tongue d', corresponding to the tongue d, is applied directly to the upper front portion of the jamb A and is engaged by a hook c, said hook c being secured to the front portion of the lower face of a top O,and said top C extending rearward over a profile I and against a wall-plate F.

In Fig. l0, which is a front elevation, D is a bracket corresponding to the brackets D of Figs. l and 7 and having at its upper end a pair of tongues 07.', directed toward each other,

and C is a top having a double hook c', ex`

tending beneath the tongues M and serving to prevent the said top from rising.

Fig. ll, which is a sectional front elevation, shows brackets D2, corresponding to the brackets D and each having a tongue cl2 on the sides of said brackets the farthest from each other and hooks c?, applied crosswise to the bottom of the top C, whereby said hooks and said tongues are brought into engagement and the front edge of said top is prevented from rising.

It is to be noted that the head or cabinet E may be made higher than shown and varied in form; but as such variation does not constitute a part of this invention I deem it unnecessary to describe the same herein.

IIO

It is to be observed that the tongues at the lfront of the mantel-base may be separate and short, as in Figs. l, 2, 4, '7, l0, and 1l, or continuous along the entire front of the inantel, as in Fig. 9. The same observation is applicable to the hook or other similar partwhich serves to engage the tongue or tongues. In either case the interlocking engagement is formed by a part or portion supported by the top extending beneath a counter portion or part supported by the mantel-base.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a mantel, the combination of a base and top, the latter resting upon the former and having at its front a portion extending beneath a counter portion on the former, whereby an interlocking engagement is formed between said base and top at the front of the mantel, substantially as described.

2. In a mantel, the combination of a base and top, the latter resting upon the former and having at its front a portion extending beneath a counter portion on the former, whereby an interlocking engagement is formed between said base and top at the front of the mantel, and a member extending over the rear of said base and top and detachably secured to both, substantially as described.

3. In a mantel, the combination of a base and top, the latter resting upon the former and having at its front a portion extending beneath a counter portion on the former, Whereby an interlocking engagement is formed between said base and top at the front of the mantel, and a head, and wall-plates, substantially as described.

4. In a mantel, the combination with a base comprising the jambs, a breast, and having at its front a tongue, of a top resting upon said base and having a hook extending beneath said tongue, and said top being detachably secured at its rear portion to the said base, substantially as described.

5. In a mantel, the combination of a base comprising the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, and a tongue, the top resting upon said base and having a hook extending beneath said tongue, said top being detachably secured at its rear portion to the said base, and a member extending over the rear of said base and said top and adapted to be detachably secured thereto, substantially as described.

In a mantel, the combination of a base comprising the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, and a tongue, the top resting upon said base and having a hook extending beneath said tongue, said top being detachably secured at its rear portion to the said base, and wallplates extending over the rear oli' said base and said top and adapted to be detachably secured thereto, substantially as described.

7. In a mantel, the combination of a base comprising the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, and a tongue, the top resting upon said base and having a hook extending beneath said tongue, said top being detachably secured at its rear portion to the said base, and a head, E, and Wall-plates, F, located at the rear of said base and top and detachably secured thereto, substantially as described. s

8. In a mantel, the combination of a base and top, the former having at its front a bracket having a tongue, and a top resting upon said base and having at its front a portion extending beneath the tongue on said bracket, whereby an interlocking engagement is formed between said base and top at the front of the mantel,substan tially as described.

9. In a mantel, the combination of jambs and a breast, the latter and the former overlapping each other, and beading for bringing the rear portion of the edges around the space inclosed by said jambsand breast into the same plane, substantially as described.

10. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, aud breast, B, the ends of the latter extending behind the jambs, and beading, A', applied at the rear of the inner edges of said jambs below the breast, substantially as described.

11. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, having its ends extending behind said jambs and being dovetailed, and -a dovetail strip, B4, applied to each of said jambs andinterlocking with the dove tail on said breast, substantially as described.

l2. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, having its ends extending behind said jambs and being dovetailed, and a dovetail strip, B4, applied to each of said jambs and interlocking with the dovetail on said breast, and beading, A', extending from said breast downward at the rear of theinner edge of each of said jambs, substantially as described.

13. In a mantel, the combination of jambs and a breast overlapping each other, beading for bringing the rear portion of the edges around the space inclosed by said jambs and breast into the same plane, and a detachable top, substantially as described.

14:. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, the ends of the latter extending behind the jambs, and beading, A',applied at the rear of the inner edges of said jambs below the breast, and a detachable top, substantially as described.

15. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, having its ends extending behind said jambs and being dovetailed, and a dovetail strip, B4, applied to said jambs with screws and interlocking with said breast, and beading, A', extending from said breast downward at the rear of the inner edge of each of said jambs, and a detachable top, substantially as described.

16. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, the ends of the latter extending behind the jambs, and beading, A', applied at the rear of the inner edges of said jambs below the breast, and a detachable top and head, substantially as described.

17. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, having its ends extending behind said jambs and being dovetailed, and a dovetail strip, B4, applied to said j ambs with screws and interlocking with said breast, and beading, A', extending from said breast downward at the rear ol the inner edge of each of said jambs, and a detachable top and head, substantially as described.

18. In a mantel, the combination of the jambs, A, A, and breast, B, the ends of the IOO 20. In a mantel, the combination With the base, top, and head, of a cornice, E', having a beading, e", extending behind said head, i5 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'LX my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 22d day of September, 1900.

THOMAS REES PRICE.

Witnesses:

CYRUs KEHR, JAS. B. WRIGHT. 

